Pupp Gone Mad

[Grand Slam]

Evening all from sunny Kenya,


Just got off the phone to the wife back in the UK and to say she is not a happy bunny would be putting it lightly, let me explain.


I have a Labrador puppy at home who is now 11 months old, up until i left for Kenya he has been as good as gold and not chewed anything in the house for a long time.

The wife recently got a Pomerian puppy for herself and the two seem to be getting along fine.

The problem began when i left for Kenya and my dog has started to chew everything in site. He has trashed two beds now and when he is put in his cage with his water bowl (If she goes out) then he has chewed that also. Now the water bowl problem can be sorted by buying a steel one but has anyone got any ideas to as why he may be doing this and also a solution to prevent it.

She is adament that it is because I am not there but i just don't know.

Any help or suggestions would be gratefully appreciated as the wife is on the verge of getting rid of him lol

Cheers lads and lasses

Adam

 

[Buckaroo8]

Is he bored perhaps?

 

[Grand Slam]

He is taken out everyday across the heath and also to the park to play, he spends the rest of the day playing with the wives puppy. I have no real idea as im not at home just now.

 

[Buckaroo8]

Probably not boredom then, does he have dedicated "chewy toys" which he would most likely prefer to chew instead of furniture?

 

[Grand Slam]

he does mate yeah, it only seems to be his bedding and water/food bowls. i thought he should of grown out that by now and like i sated at beginning, he has only started it since i left for Kenya.

Im stumped and she is raging lol

 

[nick100]

I imagine it's because you are away.
Would some bones to chew on help ?
If it's possible take him out more often, I know not always practical though.

​Tough one to cure though.

My malinois is the same, drives me mad. Not a peep out of her while we are at home, leave her behind and it is like the world is going to end.

Its nearly wrecked a galv kennel run by bouncing off it.

 

[Buckaroo8]

Sorry chap, when you wrote that he'd trashed two beds I thought you meant wooden bed frames! can't think of any other suggestions at the moment I'm afraid........

 

[J222ROE]

Its a lab thing . It's just because his or her master is away mine is the same when I leave for offshore won't listen to the wife or any1 else but when I am home she won't leave my side and is good as gold . Wel most of the time lol

 

[seibassman7]

tell your wife to give the pup a piece of your clothing -old tee shirt etc - as a comfrot blanket. make sure it has your smell on it. That may help with any seperation issues. If it does not work them maybee not a seperation issue and something else. Tje extent of my knowledge has been reached.

 

[Malxwal]

My old mans cocker does similar if he's left alone, bedding out of his cage and chewed up is all though. Just seems to be a sign of his disgruntlement at being left alone.

 

[widu]

If you don't mind me giving my twopence worth and , he may be missing you but that's only part of it . What he needs is work, ie training he is mostly unable to channel his energy and or his mind to any useful task , so therefore reverts to damaging his surroundings. Sorry but a walk in the park is not sufficient for him, he is not being mentally stimulated or challenged/ trained to do useful activities, to tire him and give him something good to focus on . Training him to work daily and strict discipline will cure his bad habits if you act soon.
​ Regards WIDU.

 

[Paul 600]

If you don't mind me giving my twopence worth and , he may be missing you but that's only part of it . What he needs is work, ie training he is mostly unable to channel his energy and or his mind to any useful task , so therefore reverts to damaging his surroundings. Sorry but a walk in the park is not sufficient for him, he is not being mentally stimulated or challenged/ trained to do useful activities, to tire him and give him something good to focus on . Training him to work daily and strict discipline will cure his bad habits if you act soon.
​ Regards WIDU.

Very good advice. You could also blame the Boo dog!

 

[AdrianC]

Try Googling 'separation anxiety' and see if the symptoms fit. Otherwise I agree with widu. You were the dogs focus and alpha leader. Now you're not around it is lost without direction. It may see your wife on level terms in regard to pack hierarchy and is unsure how to cope. She needs to assert herself with the pup, not tolerate any nonsense and give the dog a direction. Ask her to train it to do something, it doesn't have to be gundog/shooting related, just a task for the dog to fulfill, agility tasks are good. They use up energy and gives the dog a task of achieveing something while responding to commands from another person.

 

[sauer]

ok the dog getting walked etc but how long a day is it in the kennel for ?
maybe too long?
I know someone who does the worn clothes bit and helps but has to get his missus to do a bit with the dog when hes away .....just whilst out on the walk then devote a bit of it to basic dummy work.....that seems to have helped along with cutting down hours dogs left on its own.
paul

 

[Grand Slam]

He is not kept kept in a kennel, he has free roam of the house for most of the day. Its only when she goes out that he is caged.

I will give her a call and see exactly what she is doing when she is out with him.

 

[Dickyboy]

I don't disagree with WIDU, but I think the fact it has started as soon as you have left is the key point here. I would bet strongly that it is seperation anxiety. After 11months of being good I can't see it being boredom, he is not being left all day alone, he could easily occupy himself. I do not start full training until the dog has matured and I let mine grow until 12-14 months (lots of basic obedience and teach them to want to learn from 7weeks). They have all been trust worthy about chewing from 6months, with no work.

Like I stated to start, it is too much of a coincidence that it started as soon as you left. Seperation anxiety and possibly small dominance/hierarchy issues with the dog and your wife. The pup will be starting to get hormones and if your wife is not the authority you are he may just be taking the mick because he can!

My wife has often struggled with dominance/hierarchy in out house (I have GWPxGreyhound and GWP and very dominant Sprocker) She has only just the hang of being assertive alpha after 3 years, but they test her constantly. It may be she needs to do more with them when you are there as well, and one way is for her to take the dog to training classes (saves marital tension if someone else tells your wife what she needs to do)

I found that heel work can really solve a lot of issues with all training and hierarchy. Put the dog on a choke collar and walk, change pace and direction regularly, the dog should be at perfect heel and focussed the whole time(not like a collie staring at you but close and no further than shoulder by leg). 10 mins every day and you will see big differences in all of your training and in the house. Use lots of praise when it is going well and don't be afraid to use a shrp jolt to correct bad behaviour. They should also sit as soon as you stop.

Our GWP was perfect for me, but would pretend to sit and then stand up again when my wife did it. This was the dominance issue, and him testing her. He was a very big powerful dog and she did not have the strength to correct him. While they were walking I snuck up behind and jolted the lead without him knowing it was me, he looked at her horrified but then was perfect for her after that. He realised she was not to be messed with. (and we all lived happily ever after(except he broke his neck 8 months later and was PTS))